Black Skimmer

Additional Bird Information Gulls Shorebirds Types of Birds

Always a crowd favorite, the Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is the sole representative of the Rynchops genus found in the United States and only one of three Rynchops species found in the world.

Its other claim to fame is being the only native bird with a low mandible that is larger than the upper mandible, designed this way to help it gather fish as it skims the tops of coastal waterways.

They are social birds that nest in large colonies and also spend parts of their day resting in large groups along the shoreline.

Their above average size, conspicuous bill and bright red legs make them a beach standout.

While they are mostly associated with East Coast and Gulf Coast beaches, over the past couple of decades they have expanded their range along coastal Southern California. Smaller breeding populations can also be found as far north as the San Francisco Bay area.

The populations that breed in northern areas migrate south for the winter. Southern populations are often year round residents.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels